As 2009 comes to a close, we thought that we would share with you our thoughts on one of the best ways to kick start your internet marketing program in 2010.

One of the easiest and least expensive ways that you can keep your clients involved with your business and to make more money in 2010 is to start an e-mail marketing campaign.  Many small business owners immediately respond: “but we don’t have any news”.  The truth is, anything can be news, whether it is something as simple as a new product, the hiring of a new sales rep, community awards, or the announcement of a new blog entry.  Whether you are in the retail or service industry, email marketing is crucial, especially if you have customers that make recurring purchases.  They will benefit when you update them on special pricing and seasonal offerings, and many very wise retail businesses will use targeted and timely email campaigns to reduce inventories of surplus or expiring goods.  Think about including a special coupon with an expiration date that your customers can print out which will motivate them to take action.  A direct mail piece with a similar coupon could cost hundreds of dollars.

For retail businesses who don’t have recurring purchases (real estate agents, for example), email marketing is a great way to follow up with your customers after the sale and give them updates about their purchases.  The customer will feel great knowing that you are still around and standing behind your product, and this will dramatically increase the amount of satisfaction and referrals that you can expect.

Though it is tempting to send out emails from your own email address in one big batch, it is not a wise thing to do.  It can look unprofessional, especially if you not take steps to shield your client’s email addresses from others reading the email.  Also, there are very little tracking options to make sure that your clients are receiving and opening the emails.  In the worst case scenario, your day-to-day business email address can be flagged as spam!

There are several services available that are internet based and allow you to manage your regular emails along with your mailing lists from any computer with just a login.  Managing your mailing lists and designing your email design can take some time, but it is a simple process to learn.  You will want to look for a provider that adheres to the best principles of the major anti-spam industry groups.  These providers will also be able to tell you if and when your email was opened, and this can help you realize if you are targeting the right people with the right message.

SmartROI Consulting manages email campaigns for clients using their business partner Constant Contact, which is the industry leading online email marketing provider.  For any questions regarding SmartROI Consulting’s email marketing services, or any other internet marketing services, please visit www.smartroiconsulting.com or send us an email.

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